The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.

Loading ...

Loading ...

This story appears in the {{article.article.magazine.pretty_date}} issue of {{article.article.magazine.pubName}}. Subscribe

Chinese real estate billionaire couple Pan Shiyi and Zhang Xin plan to set aside $100 million under their Foundation to fund overseas study by Chinese undergraduates at the world’s top universities, SOHO China said in a statement today.

The couple, who have a long record of philanthropic support for education, signed an agreement yesterday with Harvard University President Drew Faust to donate $15 million for “SOHO China Scholarships” to the school.

Pan and Zhang, the chairman and CEO of Beijing-headquartered developer SOHO China, are one of China’s most storied entrepreneur successes of the past two decades. The couple rank No. 408 on the real-time Forbes Billionaires List with wealth of $3.7 billion. Zhang Xin was a member of Forbes Asia’s “Heroes of Philanthropy List” last year.

The SOHO China Foundation, through its "Teach for China" program, has previously funded education programs in poor rural areas in China. Pan has lent his name to farm products grown in his native Gansu Province.

SOHO has also made a mark in promoting design in the country by hiring overseas architects for its commercial projects.